Ski



May 13, 1941;

' J. M. WALLACE v Filed Sept. 19, 1940 3mm James M. Wailace Patented May 13, 1941 OFFICE SKI James M. Wallace, Adams, Wis., assignor to Herman Harmsen Application September 19, 1940, Serial No. 357,465

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved construction of ski and more particularly to a ski formed of metal, which will be exceptionally durable and not subject to warpage.

More particularly, it is an aim of the inven-' tion to provide a pair of skis formed of elongated strips of metal having fixedly attached toe clips, integral heel spaces and heel catches for combining with the toe clips for retaining the feet of the rider in position on the skis.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a metallic ski having a longitudinally ribbed undersurface for reinforcing the ski and for providing means to prevent side slippage of the ski and to tend to cause the ski to run in a straight line.

Still another aim of the invention is to provide a metallic ski having an attached loop projecting from the forward upturned end thereof and forming a handle by means of which the ski may be carried or a loop by means of which the ski may be hung up when not in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of one of a pair of skis constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the plane of the line 33 of Figure 1, and

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views taken substantially along the planes of the lines 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the difierent views, I designates generally a ski constructed in accordance with the invention from an elongated strip of metal ll, one end [2 of which is turned upwardly to form the forward, leading end of the ski ID. Contiguous with the upturned portion or forward end l2, the side edges of the strip H are turned upwardly and back upon themselves to form the rolled portions l3, as best seen in Figure 6, in which are disposed the ends or legs M of a U-shaped rod l which is thus secured to the forward end of the ski Ill. The intermediate portion of the rod I5 is disposed forwardly of the forward end of the ski I0 and forms therewith a loop l6 which may be employed either as a handle for carrying the ski or as a loop to engage a hook or other support, not shown, for hanging the ski up when not in use.

Rearwardly of the rolled portions l3, the side edges of the strip II are bent to extend upwardly and are inclined inwardly to form the portions I! which engage over the side edges I8, as best seen in Figure 5, of an upwardly bowed strip of metal [9. The portions l1 and I8 are suitably secured together, as by welding, not shown. The strip [9 tapers in width from its rear end 20 to its forward end 2| and is inclined upwardly and rearwardly. The strip l9 forms a toe clip which is open at its ends and which tapers from its enlarged rear end to its restricted forward end.

Rearwardly of the toe clip l9, the side edges of the strip II are bent upwardly and turned back upon themselves to form the portions 22 which are relatively short in length and which are disposed adjacent to the enlarged rear end 20 of the toe clip t9. Rearwardly of the portions 22, the upturned side edges of the strip II are rolled inwardly to form the portions 23 which combine with the portions 22 to form the inwardly curved portions 24' which are adapted to engage the heel of the shoe of the rider to form a heel catch with the enlarged space between the portions 22 forming a space for receiving the heel portion of theshoe. The bottom portion 25 of the ski I0 is provided with three laterally spaced downwardly projecting ribs 26 which extend from end Y to end of the ski l0 and which provided reinforcing means forthe bottom portion 25 and are also provided to prevent side slippage of the ski and to cause the ski to run in a straight line.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the skis may be readily applied to the feet of the wearer by inserting the toe of the foot into the toe clip [9 and by moving the heel downwardly and into the space between the portions 22 so that the heel can be engaged by the heel catch 24 and held against lateral movement by the portions 22. The foot may thus be held in place on the ski l0 without the use of binder straps or other attaching means conventionally used on skis for securing the foot thereto. The ribs 26 will prevent the ski ID from sagging under the weight of the rider so that the weight will be distributed over the entire bearing surface of the ski and the ribs 26, as previously pointed out, will prevent side slippage and cause the ski to run in a straight line so that there will be no tendency for the skis to toe-in or toe-out while in use.

Obviously, the ski 10 may be made in various lengths and widths and the toe clip I9 and heel catch 24 may likewise be made in various sizes for fitting various sized shoes so that the skis may be built in sizes for adults and children.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to as only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A ski comprising an elongated metal strip having an upwardly curved end forming the forward end of the ski, the longitudinal edges of said strip being turned upwardly, an upwardly bowed strip of metal secured at its side edges to portions of the side edges of the ski and disposed rearwardly of and adjacent the upturned forward end of the ski, said last mentioned strip forming a toe clip, and the upturned side edges of the ski, rearwardly of the toe clip, being turned inwardly and rolled to form a heel catch for combining with the toe clip to retain the foot of the rider in position on the ski.

2. A ski as in claim 1, comprising a U-shaped member, the ends of said member being disposed between the forward portions of the upturned side edges of the ski, said portions being rolled inwardly for engaging said ends of the U-shaped member for attaching it to the forward end of the ski, the intermediate portion of said U-shaped member forming a loop, disposed beyond the forward end of the ski, and by means of which the ski may be hung up for storage or carried by said loop as a handle.

3. A ski as in claim 1, said elongated strip being provided with laterally spaced, downwardly projecting ribs extending from end to end thereof for reinforcing the ski and for providing a ribbed contact surface for preventing side slippage of the ski.

4. A ski formed from an elongated strip of metal provided with an upturned end forming the forward end of the ski, said ski being provided with a longitudinally ribbed undersurface, a metallic toe clip fixedly attached to the ski and disposed thereabove, said toe clip being constructed and arranged to diverge and open rearwardly, and the side edges of the strip forming the ski being turned upwardly and inwardly rearwardly of the toe clip to provide a heel catch.

5. A ski as in claim 4, comprising a loop member attached to the ski and disposed forwardly of its upturned end to provide a handle portion by means of which the ski may be hung on a supporting member for storage or by means of which the ski may be carried.

6. A ski formed of sheet metal, said ski being rovided with a longitudinally ribbed undersurface, a sheet metal strip attached to said ski and provided with an intermediate upwardly bowed and forwardly inclined portion forming a toe clip, the side edges of the ski, rearwardly of the toe clip, being turned upwardly, and said side edges being turned inwardly in spaced apart relationship to the toe clip to form a recess or enlarged portion adjacent the toe clip for receiving the heel,

JAMES M. WALLACE. 

